Excavating apparatus

ABSTRACT

Excavating apparatus comprises a frame which is disposed in a shaft to be further excavated and carries a pair of deflector means and movable bulkhead means. One deflector means is lowered prior to blasting a bench at the base of theshaft. The bulkhead means is moved into a position in which it cooperates with the other deflector means to provide a muck entrapment facility. On blasting the bench, muck is deflected upwardly a laterally by the lowered deflector means into the muck entrapment facility. The muck can then be removed while the next bench is drilled and charged preparatory to blasting. The arrangement thus results in time saving.

United States Patent: mi

Ylonen 1 Nov. 5, 1974 EXCAVATING APPARATUS Y Y I t [76] Inventor: George Ylonen, Lac Du Bonnet, 'f' Purser Manitoba, Canada [22] Filed: May 9, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT PP N03 358,501 Excavating apparatus comprises a frame which is disposed in a shaft to be further excavated and carries a [30] Foreign Application Priority Data pair of deflector means and movable bulkhead means. 1

3 I973 C d 62493 One deflector means is lowered prior to blasting a a A bench at the base of theshaft. The bulkhead means is moved into a position in which it cooperates with the (gill. 299lz3idugts) other deflector means to provide a muck entrapment [58] Fie'ld i9 (/40 facility. On blasting the bench, muck is deflected upwardly a laterally by the lowered deflector means into 5 6] References cued the muck entrapment facility. 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS The muck can then be removed while the next benc 2 014 63 9/1935 B r t I 61/40 is drilled and charged preparatory to blasting. The

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arrangement thus results in time saving.

, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain 299/13 18 c Drawing Figures mrsurs PATENTEU "UV 5 I974 ZIP- w aw It A This invention relates to an excavating apparatus for use in shaft sinking. I

Hitherto, shaft sinking has been accomplished by three separate operations, the first comprising drilling and blasting, the second comprising mucking i.e., removing the blasted rock, and the third comprising timbering, i.e., installing shaft timbers, manway, air and water lines. Naturally, these successive operations are time consuming and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus capable of performing two or all of the operations substantially simultaneously.

According to the present invention, there is provided excavation apparatus, comprising:

a. a frame capable of being disposed in a shaft to be further excavated;

b. first and second deflector means carried inside said frame and each capable of being raised and lowered; and

c. movable bulkhead means carried by said frame and capable of being disposed between said first and second deflector means in a first position in' which said bulkhead means cooperates with the first deflector means in a raised position to form a first muck entrapment container, and a second position in which said bulkhead means cooperates with the second deflector means in a raised position to provide a second muck entrapment container, the arrangement being such that on blasting a bench forming the base of the shaft on the side of said first deflector means, muck is deflected upwardly and laterally by the second deflector means in a lowered position into the first muck entrapment container for subsequent removal from the shaft, the operation thereafter being repeatable for successive benches on alternate sides of the shaft by successive reversal of the positions of the first and second deflector means and movement of said bulkhead means to form said second and first muck entrapment containers.

A further aspect of the invention provides a method of excavating a shaft, comprising:

a. successively blasting benches at opposite sides of the base of the shaft;

b. causing blasted muck from each successive blasting to be deflected upwardly and laterally in the shaft to the other side thereof;

c. entrapping and collecting deflected muck at said other side of the shaft;

d. removing collected muck from the shaft between each successive blasting operation and concurrently drilling and charging a further bench at the base of the shaft.

During the removal of muck from a muck entrapment container for example by repeatedly lowering and filling a bucket, drilling and charging of the next bench can naturally take place. In addition the frame can be lowered in stepwise fashion after each blasting operation to permit timbering of the upper portion of the shaft to proceed concurrently with drilling and muckm For a better understanding of the invention reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front view partly in section of an excavation apparatus;

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a plan sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken on the line III-IIIof FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line lV--IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line Vl-Vl of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the" line VII-VII of FIG. 1 but with the platform in the horizontal position;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a fragment of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 shows a plan view of a part of the device shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic front view of another portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a view taken along the line XI-XI of FIG. 10; and

FIGS. 12a 'to 12f illustrate diagrammatically successive operational steps of the excavation apparatus in use in sinking a shaft.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the excavation apparatus'comprises a rectangular frame generally indicated at l disposed in a vertical shaft 2 and comprising a lower frame portion 3 composed of steel plate and an upper frame portion 4 comprising an open framework of I-beam, channel and angle irons (illustrated in cutaway form in the drawings for clarity).

Located in the lower portion of the frame I and carried thereby are vertically disposed first and second deflectors 5 and 6, respectively, each having an upper inwardly curved portion 7 and 8, respectively. Each deflector is adjacent to one side of the lower frame portion 3, and is provided at its foot with an inwardly curved baffle portion 9 and 10, respectively. The deflectors 5 and 6 are capable of being independently raised and lowered by means of air hoists 11 and 12 opcrating in conjunction with sheaves 13 and 14, pulleys 15 and 16 and associated cables. Pulleys l5 and 16 are connected by cables to flanges l7 and 18 on the outer surfaces of the upper curved portions 7 and 8, respectively, of the deflectors 5 and 6. The hoists 11 and 12 are mounted on an open grill walking floor 20 which is supported by horizontal beam 21 of the upper frame portion 4, the hoists being accessible to personnel on said floor 20.

Disposed centrally in the upper frame portion 4 is a cylindrical structure 25 constituting a passageway for the raising and lowering of a bucket (not shown), the upper portion of the structure 25 extending through floor 2 0-and being supported by the beam 21 and the bottom of the structure 25 being supported by beams 26 of the upper frame portion 4. The top of the cylindrical structure 25 is surrounded by a large hoist 27 and associated air motor 28 for raising and lowering the entire frame 1 in the shaft 2. The hoist 27 and motor 28' posed adjacent the outside of frame portion 4.

Extending horizontally across the lower frame portion 3 and connected to rear and front walls 39A and 39B thereof are horizontal rails 40. Short upper rails 41 are provided near each end of each rail 40, each upper rail 41 being slightly spaced from and parallel to the associated portion of a rail 40, so as to form a channel near each end of each rail 40 and to leave an open middle section thereof. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6, a baffle 42 having downwardly angled ends 42a each of which carries a wheel 43 is positioned such that the wheels 43 are in contact with the rails 40 to permit the baffle 42 to run along the rails 40. An upwardly angled flange 44 is secured to each side of the horizontal portion of the baffle 42 and the flanges 44 are dimensioned and disposed so as to pass closely beneath the respective rails 41 when the baffle 42 is moved on the rails 40 to one side or the other side of the frame portion 3. Thus, the upper rails 41 function to restrain upward vertical movement of the baffle 42 in either side position of the baffle 42, while said baffle is supported by the rails 40.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, and 7, there is disposed in the lower frame portion 3 a further system of horizontal rails similar to the above described systems of rails 40 and 41 and comprising a pair of horizontal lower rails 50 connected respectively to the front and rear walls 39B and 39A of the frame 3 and four short upper rails 51 each extending above and parallel to a portion of each rail 50 spaced from the ends and the middle thereof. A pivotable axially horizontal platform 54 having downwardly angled ends 55 runs on the rail 50 by means of a flange and wheel arrangement 56, 57 operating in similar fashion to the flange 44 and wheel 43 of the baffle 42. Thus, the wheel 56 runs continually on the rail 50 and over certain portions of its track is restrained against vertical movement by the disposition of flange 57 beneath one or other of the short upper rails 51.

As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the platform 54 is pivotable at each end thereof by means of sliding bolts 60 and 61, alternately inserted into or withdrawn from opening 62 or 63 respectively, of the platform 54. Thus, for example, with bolt 60 inserted in opening 62, and bolt 61 withdrawn from opening 63, the platform 54 is pivotable about its left-hand end (as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9). The bolts 60 and 61 also serve to connect the platform 54 to the angled ends 55. The platform 54 is further provided at each end with a projection 65 which is slidable in an associated curved channel 66. With the platform 54 in the right-hand position as seen in FIG. 1, the bolt 61 will be secured in the opening 63 and the bolt 60 removed from the opening 62, whereby the platform 54 can pivot about its right-hand end to reach the position 54 A shown in broken lines in FIG. 8 with the left side projection 65 sliding down the associated channel 66 until a stop 68 at the end of the channel is reached.

In order to transport the platform 54 from the righthand position to the left-hand position as seen in FIG. 1, the platform 54 is first returned to the horizontal position and both bolts 60 and 61 inserted in the associated openings 62 and 63, respectively. The platform 54 can then be caused to run along the rail 50 on the wheels 56 to reach the left-hand position as seen in broken lines in FIG. 1 and can thereafter be brought to the reverse sloping position by releasing bolts 61 from openings 63 and causing the right side projection 65 to slide down the associated channel 66.

Located centrally in the lower frame portion 3 is a bulkhead 70 pivotable between the positions shown in full and broken lines in FIG. 10 about a split axle 71, 72 which is secured to the front and rear wall 39B and 39A, respectively, of the lower frame portion 3. The bulkhead is spaced from the split axle 71, 72 by triangular brackets 73 each secured along its base to one side of the bulkhead 70 and carrying near its apex the split axle 71, 72. Semicircular rings 74 are provided on the upper side of the bulkhead 70 for engagement by a hook 75 (FIG. 1) carried on the end of a cable 76 which extends upwardly (in a manner not shown) to the region above the floor 20. By exerting vertical force on the cable 76 with the book 75 engaged in whichever ring 74 is uppermost at any given time, the bulkhead 70 can be swung between the position shown in full lines and the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 10, whereby to dispose the bulkhead 70 alternately on the right or the left side of the lower portion of the shaft.

In order to transport the platform 54 between the position shown in full lines and the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, the bulkhead should first be raised to a horizontal or near horizontal position.

On completion of movement of the platform 54 from one side of the shaft to the other, the hook 75 is then lowered to bring the bulkhead 70 into a vertical position adjacent the platform 54. The baffle 42 is also transported to the corresponding side of the shaft so that baffle 42, platform 54 and bulkhead 70 all attain the positions shown in full lines or the positions shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, as the case may be. The deflector 5 or 6 on the same side of the shaft is then raised so that the angled bottom portion 9 or 10 is adjacent the end of platform 54, so that, for example, angled portion 10, platform 54 and bulkhead 70 together with the front and back walls 39A and 39 of frame portion 3 effectively form a container for the entrapment and collection of blasted muck. FIG. 1 shows the situation following blasting of a bench at the foot of the shaft on the lefthand side as seen in the figure, blasted muck 80 having been deflected upwardly by the deflector 5 and then laterally by the curved portion 7 thereof and by baffle 42 into the container 70, 54, 10 formed as described above. Baffle 42 which can be horizontal or tilted assists in directing muck in the appropriate direction to be received by said container. Thereafter a bucket (not shown) is lowered through the cylindrical structure 25 and down the shaft and passes between the split axle 71, 72 of the bulkhead 70 to a position immediately below the bulkhead 70. On release of bolt 60 and pivoting of platform 54 as described above, entrapped muck 80 can slide into the bucket for subsequent removal. On filling of the bucket, the platform 54 is then returned to the horizontal position by powered means (not shown), the bucket removed, emptied and returned and the operation repeated until all of the muck has been removed. In the meantime, drilling of the bench 79 on the right-hand side of the base of the shaft can proceed and drill holes 81 can be charged with explosive for a subsequent blasting operation. It will be appreciated that the entire frame 1 and the equipment mounted thereon is suspended in a given desired position in the shaft by means of the cables 38. On completion of a pair of blasting operations, actuation of hoist 27 by means of motor 28 takes place to lower the frame 1 by an appropriate degree, whereafter further blasting operations can be carried out. As the frame is progressively lowered, and simultaneously with the drilling and mucking operations, shaft timbers can be installed in the shaft in per se known manner above the top of the frame.

The sequence of operation of the apparatus will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 12a to 12f. FlG. 12a shows the left deflector 5 lowered into the blasting position with the angled portion 9 in contact with the base of the shaft. The right bench 79 has been drilled to a depth not exceeding about 6 feet and the drill holes 81 have been charged with explosive. The right deflector 6 is raised about 6 feet higher than the deflector 5 into the muck-retaining position with the angled portion 10 abutting one side of the platform 54 and the bulkhead 70 adjacent thereto in the vertical position to form a muck-retaining container. Baffle 42 has been moved to the right and is disposed approximately above platform 54.

Blasting is now effected and the muck evolving from the blast is deflected as shown by the arrows in FIG. 12b upwardly and laterally by the deflector 5 and baffle 42 into the muck retaining container on the right-hand side of the shaft.

As seen in FIG. 12c, the left deflector 5 is then raised to provide sufficient clearance for drilling of the left bench at the base of the shaft to commence. Bucket 85 has been lowered and platform 54 is shown pivoted to the sloping position to allow muck 80 to fill the bucket. After each filling, the platform 54 is returned to the horizontal position and the bucket removed, emptied and returned for refilling. As shown in FIG. 12d, drilling by means of drill 86 has commenced while mucking proceeds. FIG. He shows drilling and mucking completed and the bucket 85 about to be removed for the last time. The platform 54 has been returned again to the horizontal position prior to the transport to the left side of the shaft.

Referring to FIG. 12f, the right deflector 6 is then lowered to the blasting position with the angled portion 10 adjacent the base of the shaft. The left deflector 5 is lowered from the previously raised position to the intermediate muckretaining position. The bulkhead 70 has been pivoted into the upper horizontal position and the platform 54 transported from right to left on the rail 50, and the bulkhead 70 then lowered into the left side position adjacent the platform 54, the other end of which abuts the angled portion 9 of deflector 5 to form a muck collection container. The baffle 42 is transported on rail 40 to the left side position above the platform 54. The position of all members thus attains the reverse of that shown in FIG. 12a and the blasting operation can then be repeated.

In the above-description, an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention has been described for use in excavating a shaft of generally rectangular crosssection. However, it will be appreciated that the apparatus can be modified for use in shafts of square or round cross-section.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. Excavation apparatus, comprising:

a. a frame capable of being disposed in a shaft to be further excavated:

b. first and second deflector means carried inside said frame on opposite sides thereof and each capable of being raised and lowered; and

c. movable bulkhead means carried by said frame and capable of being disposed between said first and second deflector means in a first position in which said bulkhead means cooperates with the first deflector means in a raised position to form a first muck entrapment container, and a second position in which said bulkhead means cooperates with the second deflector means in a raised position to provide a second muck entrapment container; the arrangement being such that on blasting a bench forming the base of the shaft on the side of said first deflector means, muck is deflected upwardly and laterally by the second deflector means in a lowered position into the first muck entrapment container for subsequent removal from the shaft, the operation thereafter being repeatable for successive benches on alternate sides of the shaft by successive reversal of the positions of the first and second deflector means and movement of said bulkhead means to form said second and first muck entrapment containers.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said deflector means comprises an upright plate having an inwardly curved upper portion to facilitate lateral deflection of blasted muck into said first or second muck entrapment container, respectively.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein hoist means carried by said frame are provided for individually raising and lowering each said deflector means.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein baffle means are disposed in said frame for assisting transference of muck into said first and second muck entrapment containers.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame is generally rectangular.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, and including in an upper portion a horizontal walking platform to permit access of operative personnel.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, and including baffle means capable of being disposed in said frame in horizontal or tilted position above each said muck entrapment container for assisting lateral transference of blasted muck thereinto.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bulkhead means comprises a wall member capable of movement between two upright positions for alternate cooperation with the first and second deflector means, and a platfonn capable of being disposed alternately in positions in which it cooperates with the first or second deflector means, respectively, and said wall member.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said platform is selectively downwardly pivotable about each end thereof, whereby muck entrapped in eithersaid first or second muck entrapment container can be delivered to removal means for removal from said shaft by pivotable movement of said platform when said bulkhead means is in said first or second position, respectively.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the frame includes front and rear walls which cooperate with said deflector means and said bulkhead means t form said muck entrapment containers.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said wall member is mounted on a horizontal axis perpendicular to the front and rear frame walls for pivotable movement between said two upright positions.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said platform is slidable horizontally on rails carried by the front and rear frame walls.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said wall member is mounted on horizontal axis perpendicular to the front and rear frame walls for pivotable movement between said two upright positions, the arrangement being such that said platform is slidable on said rails when said wall member is pivoted to an intermediate position between said two upright positions.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein baffle means are disposed in said frame for assisting transference of muck into said first and second muck en trapment containers, said baffle means being movable into locations above each said muck entrapment container.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said baffle means is slidable horizontally on rails carried by said front and rear frame walls and is tiltable about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the front and rear frame walls.

16. Excavation apparatus comprising:

a. a frame having front and rear walls and capable of being disposed in a shaft to be further excavated;

b. first and second deflector means carried inside said frame on opposite sides thereof and each being capable of being raised and lowered;

c. movable bulkhead means carried by said frame and capable of being disposed between said first and second deflector means in a first position in which said bulkhead means cooperates with the first deflector means in a raised position to form a first muck entrapment container, and a second position in which said bulkhead means cooperates with the second deflector means in a raised position to provide a second muck entrapment container; said bulkhead means including a wall member capable of movement between two upright positions for alternate cooperation with the first and second deflector means, and a platform capable of being disposed alternately in positions in which it cooperates with the first or second deflector means, respectively, and said wall member; the arrangement being such that on blasting a bench forming the base of the shaft on the side of said first deflector means, muck is deflected upwardly and laterally by the second deflector means in a lowered position into the first muck entrapment container for subsequent removal from the shaft, the operation thereafter being repeatable for successive benches on alternate sides of the shaft by successive reversal of the position of the first and second deflector means and movement of said bulkhead means to form said second and first muck entrapment containers.

17. A method of excavating a shaft, comprising:

a. successively blasting benches at opposite sides of the base of the shaft;

b. causing blasted muck from each successive blasting to be deflected upwardly and laterally in the shaft to the other side thereof;

0. entrapping and collecting deflected muck at said other side of the shaft;

d. removing collected muck from the shaft between each successive blasting operation and concurrently drilling and charging a further bench at the base of the shaft.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein timbering is progressively carried out concurrently with muck removal. 

1. Excavation apparatus, comprising: a. a frame capable of being disposed in a shaft to be further excavated: b. first and second deflector means carried inside said frame on opposite sides thereof and each capable of being raised and lowered; and c. movable bulkhead means carried by said frame and capable of being disposed between said first and second deflector means in a first position in which said bulkhead means cooperates with the first deflector means in a raised position to form a first muck entrapment container, and a second position in which said bulkhead means cooperates with the second deflector means in a raised position to provide a second muck entrapment container; the arrangement being such that on blasting a bench forming the base of the shaft on the side of said first deflector means, muck is deflected upwardly and laterally by the second deflector means in a lowered position into the first muck entrapment container for subsequent removal from the shaft, the operation thereafter being repeatable for successive benches on alternate sides of the shaft by successive reversal of the positions of the first and second deflector means and movement of said bulkhead means to form said second and first muck entrapment containers.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said deflector means comprises an upright plate having an inwardly curved upper portion to facilitate lateral deflection of blasted muck into said first or second muck entrapment container, respectively.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein hoist means carried by said frame are provided for individually raising and lowering each said deflector means.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein baffle means are disposed in said frame for assisting transference of muck into said first and second muck entrapment containers.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame is generally rectangular.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, and including in an upper portion a horizontal walking platform to permit access of operative personnel.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, and including baffle means capable of being disposed in said frame in horizontal or tilted position above each said muck entrapment container for assisting lateral transference of blasted muck thereinto.
 8. An apparatus according to cLaim 1, wherein the bulkhead means comprises a wall member capable of movement between two upright positions for alternate cooperation with the first and second deflector means, and a platform capable of being disposed alternately in positions in which it cooperates with the first or second deflector means, respectively, and said wall member.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said platform is selectively downwardly pivotable about each end thereof, whereby muck entrapped in either said first or second muck entrapment container can be delivered to removal means for removal from said shaft by pivotable movement of said platform when said bulkhead means is in said first or second position, respectively.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the frame includes front and rear walls which cooperate with said deflector means and said bulkhead means to form said muck entrapment containers.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said wall member is mounted on a horizontal axis perpendicular to the front and rear frame walls for pivotable movement between said two upright positions.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said platform is slidable horizontally on rails carried by the front and rear frame walls.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said wall member is mounted on horizontal axis perpendicular to the front and rear frame walls for pivotable movement between said two upright positions, the arrangement being such that said platform is slidable on said rails when said wall member is pivoted to an intermediate position between said two upright positions.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein baffle means are disposed in said frame for assisting transference of muck into said first and second muck entrapment containers, said baffle means being movable into locations above each said muck entrapment container.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said baffle means is slidable horizontally on rails carried by said front and rear frame walls and is tiltable about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the front and rear frame walls.
 16. Excavation apparatus comprising: a. a frame having front and rear walls and capable of being disposed in a shaft to be further excavated; b. first and second deflector means carried inside said frame on opposite sides thereof and each being capable of being raised and lowered; c. movable bulkhead means carried by said frame and capable of being disposed between said first and second deflector means in a first position in which said bulkhead means cooperates with the first deflector means in a raised position to form a first muck entrapment container, and a second position in which said bulkhead means cooperates with the second deflector means in a raised position to provide a second muck entrapment container; said bulkhead means including a wall member capable of movement between two upright positions for alternate cooperation with the first and second deflector means, and a platform capable of being disposed alternately in positions in which it cooperates with the first or second deflector means, respectively, and said wall member; the arrangement being such that on blasting a bench forming the base of the shaft on the side of said first deflector means, muck is deflected upwardly and laterally by the second deflector means in a lowered position into the first muck entrapment container for subsequent removal from the shaft, the operation thereafter being repeatable for successive benches on alternate sides of the shaft by successive reversal of the position of the first and second deflector means and movement of said bulkhead means to form said second and first muck entrapment containers.
 17. A method of excavating a shaft, comprising: a. successively blasting benches at opposite sides of the base of the shaft; b. causing blasted muck from each successive blasting to be deflected upwardly and laterally in the Shaft to the other side thereof; c. entrapping and collecting deflected muck at said other side of the shaft; d. removing collected muck from the shaft between each successive blasting operation and concurrently drilling and charging a further bench at the base of the shaft.
 18. A method according to claim 16 wherein timbering is progressively carried out concurrently with muck removal. 